Chapter 43: The Black Water River Demon Seizes the Monk; the Western Sea Dragon Prince Captures the Turtle Dragon and Brings Him Back

Now then: Guanyin had only just finished chanting a few times when the pain left the monster. He stood up, looked himself over, and saw that gold hoops were fastened around his neck, wrists, and ankles, biting so hard they were unbearable. He tried to take them off, but there was no shifting them even a hair's breadth. The treasure had already taken root in the flesh; the more he rubbed, the worse it hurt.

Wukong laughed. "Well now, little darling, the Bodhisattva must have feared you would not grow up properly, so she gave you a collar and bangles to wear."

The child heard that and grew angry again. He snatched up his spear and stabbed wildly at Wukong. Wukong leaped aside at once and stood behind the Bodhisattva, calling out, "Recite the spell! Recite the spell!"

The Bodhisattva dipped her willow branch in a little sweet dew and scattered it over him, crying, "Bind!"

At once he dropped the spear and brought both hands together before his chest in prayer. He could no longer open them. To this day the mark is remembered as Guanyin's binding ring, and this is what it means. The child could not open his hands or take up his spear, and only then did he understand how deep the power was. With no other choice, he bowed his head and submitted.

The Bodhisattva murmured the true words, tipped the pure vase, and drew that whole sea water back inside it. Not a drop remained. She said to Wukong, "Wukong, this fiend has been subdued, but his heart is still unsteady. I will make him bow once for every step until he has bowed all the way to Mount Putuo, and only then will I release the spell. Go now and rescue your master from the cave."

Wukong turned and knelt. "You have crossed such a distance for us, Bodhisattva. I should escort you a stretch."

Guanyin said, "You need not. You may delay your master's life."

Wukong heard this and took his leave with great joy. The monster was already returning to his proper fruition. In all, he bowed fifty-three times and saw the Bodhisattva fifty-three times.

We will not dwell on the good Bodhisattva and how she received the child. Instead: Sha Wujing had long been sitting in the woods, waiting for Wukong to return. At last, seeing no sign of him, he slung the luggage over the horse, held the demon-subduing precious staff in one hand, and took the reins in the other. He came out of the pine woods and looked south. There he saw Wukong approaching in high spirits. Sha Wujing greeted him, saying, "Brother, you went to invite the Bodhisattva, and only now are you back. You have nearly frightened me to death."

Wukong said, "You were only dreaming. Old Sun has already invited the Bodhisattva, and she has subdued the monster."

Then Wukong told him in full about the Bodhisattva's powers. Sha Wujing was overjoyed. "Then let us rescue Master."

The two of them leaped across the ravine, reached the gate, tied up the horses, and charged into the cave with their weapons raised. They wiped out the whole nest of monsters, untied the leather bag, and let Bajie out. The fool thanked Wukong, saying, "Brother, where is that monster? Let me go and smash him a few times to vent my anger."

Wukong said, "Come on, let us first look for Master."

The three of them went straight to the back, where they saw their master stripped bare and bound in the courtyard, weeping. Sha Wujing hurried to untie the ropes, and Wukong at once brought the clothes and put them on him. The three of them knelt before him and said, "Master, you have suffered."

Tripitaka thanked them. "Good disciples, you have labored greatly. How did you bring down the demon?"

Wukong again told him about inviting the Bodhisattva and having her receive the child. Tripitaka heard this and immediately knelt, bowing toward the south.

Wukong said, "There is no need to thank her. Rather, it is we who have done her a favor by receiving one child."

This is what is meant by the child bowing to Guanyin, fifty-three bows and seeing the Buddha in each one.

He told Sha Wujing to gather up the treasures from the cave. Then they looked for grain and provisions, arranged a vegetarian meal, and fed their master. The elder owed his life to Sun Wukong. If the true scriptures were to be won, it was only by way of the Handsome Monkey King.

The master and disciples came out of the cave, mounted, took the road, and set their hearts westward. They had been traveling for more than a month when they suddenly heard water roaring like thunder. Tripitaka was startled. "Disciples, what river is that?"

Wukong laughed. "Master, you worry too much. You are hardly fit to be a monk.

The four of us are all here, yet you are the only one who hears some water noise. Have you forgotten the Heart Sutra again?"

Tripitaka said, "The Heart Sutra has fifty-four lines and two hundred seventy characters. It was taught orally by the Chan master Wuchao at Vulture Peak. I have carried it in my ears ever since, and I recite it often. Which line do you say I have forgotten?"

Wukong said, "Master, you have forgotten the line about there being no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind.

We monks should not see with the eyes, hear with the ears, smell with the nose, taste with the tongue, feel cold and heat with the body, or let the mind dwell on idle thoughts. That is how the six thieves are cast out. But now you are seeking scriptures and keeping it in your mind all the time; you fear demons and will not cast aside the body; you want vegetarian food and move the tongue; you delight in fragrance and sweetness and stir the nose; you hear sounds and start the ears; you see things and fix the eyes. You have brought all six thieves to your door. How are you to reach the Western Heaven and see the Buddha?"

Tripitaka heard him and fell silent, brooding.

He then recited:

Ever since I left the Sage King years ago,
I have hurried day and night with great diligence.
Straw sandals have worn through on the mountain mists;
a bamboo hat has split the clouds on the ridges.
At night, the monkeys cry, and the sound is hard to bear;
by moonlight, the birds call, and the sound is harder still.
When will I complete the three times three stages,
and receive from the Tathagata the subtle scripture?

Wukong heard it all and could not help clapping and laughing. "So the master is only homesick. If you want the three-times-three work to be complete, why should that be hard? As the saying goes, 'When the skill is done, it comes of itself.'"

Bajie turned his head. "Brother, with obstacles this high and fierce, even if we walk for a thousand years we still will not succeed."

Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, you and I are alike: clumsy of mouth and thick of tongue. Do not stir up Senior Brother's temper. Just shoulder the load and work the road, and there will surely be a day of success."

While they were speaking, their feet never stopped. The horse kept its pace, and ahead they saw a stretch of black water reaching to the sky, so the horse could not go on.

The four of them stopped on the bank and looked carefully. What they saw was this:

Layer on layer of thick waves, heap on heap of turbid billows.
Near at hand, the surface showed no reflected figure; from far off, no trees could be found.
It rolled like ink spread across the ground, surged like gray smoke for a thousand li.
Foam drifted up like piles of charcoal; spray lifted like coal dust being tossed.
Even cattle and sheep would not drink it; crows and magpies could not fly over it.
Only the reeds and duckweed on the bank knew the season,
and the grasses and flowers on the flats competed in their green strangeness.
Lakes and rivers exist beneath heaven, and streams and marshes are common in the world,
but who has seen a black-water river in the Western land of men?

Tripitaka dismounted and said, "Disciples, why is the water so muddy and black?"

Bajie said, "Some household must have spilled an ink vat."

Sha Wujing said, "No, it is only someone washing brushes and inkstones."

Wukong said, "Stop guessing blindly. Think of some way to get Master across."

Bajie said, "If Old Pig were to cross this river, it would be no trouble. I could ride a cloud, or I could go into the water and carry it. I would be over in no time at all."

Sha Wujing said, "If it were me, I could just ride the clouds or wade through the water and be over in a flash."

Wukong said, "That is easy enough for us. It is only Master who is difficult."

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, how wide is this river?"

Bajie said, "About ten li across."

Tripitaka said, "Figure it out among yourselves. Which one of you will carry me over?"

Wukong said, "Bajie can carry you."

Bajie said, "Not so easy to carry. If I carried you while riding the clouds, I would not get three feet off the ground. As the saying goes, 'A mortal man on your back is heavy as a mountain.' If I carried you by water, I might drag you under instead."

While they were still arguing at the riverbank, a small boat came drifting down from upstream, rowed by one man. Tripitaka was delighted. "Disciples, a boat is coming. Call him to ferry us across."

Sha Wujing shouted, "Boatman, come ferry us! Come ferry us!"

The man on the boat said, "I am not a ferry boat. How am I to ferry people?"

Sha Wujing said, "Whether in Heaven or on earth, convenience comes first. Though you are not a ferry boat, we are not here to trouble you often. We are holy monks from the Eastern Land on imperial mission to seek the scriptures. Please be kind and carry us across. We will thank you."

The man heard this and brought the boat close to shore, leaning on his oar. "Masters, my boat is small. There are so many of you. How could I take you all?"

Tripitaka stepped forward and saw that the boat was only a section of carved wood, with a single cabin in the middle and room for only two people. "What are we to do?"

Sha Wujing said, "Then make two trips."

Bajie, always eager to spare himself, got his mind to work and said, "Wujing, you and Senior Brother stay here to watch the luggage and horses. I will escort Master across first, then come back for the horse. Let Senior Brother jump over if he likes."

Wukong nodded. "That will do."

The fool helped Tripitaka aboard. The boatman pushed off, raised his oar, and drove straight along the current. They had barely reached the middle when there was a great crash, and waves rolled over the sky and drowned the sun. A fierce wind rose at once. It was a truly savage wind:

A blast cloud rose overhead; the middle current climbed in black layers.
On both banks flying sand blotted out the daylight; the trees on all sides crashed down with a cry.
It could upset dragons in the river and agitate sea spirits; it could scatter earth and dust and wither flowers and trees.
It roared like spring thunder; it howled like a starving tiger.
Crabs, turtles, fish, and shrimp all bowed upward; birds and beasts lost their nests and dens.
The boatmen of the Five Lakes were all in trouble; the households of the Four Seas could not keep their lives.
Fishermen in the streams could not hold their hooks; boatmen on the river could not steady their poles.
Roof tiles lifted, bricks flew, and houses collapsed; heaven shook and earth quaked, like Mount Tai in a storm.

This wind was in truth the work of the man on the boat. He was the monster of Black Water River. In one glance he had swept away Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie, sending boat and all into the water without a trace. No one knew where he had carried them off to.

On the bank, Sha Wujing and Wukong were alarmed. "What is to be done? Master has always met one disaster after another. He only just escaped one demon, and now this black-water misfortune comes upon us."

Sha Wujing said, "Perhaps the boat overturned. Let us follow downstream and look for him."

Wukong said, "It is not an overturned boat. If the boat had capsized, Bajie could swim and would surely have protected Master, carrying him out through the water.

When I saw the boatman just now, there was something wrong with his spirit. He must have been the one who stirred the wind and dragged Master under."

Sha Wujing said, "Why did you not say so earlier? You look after the horse and luggage while I go down to search."

Wukong said, "That water is not clean. I fear you cannot go."

Sha Wujing said, "How does it compare with my Flowing Sands River? I can go, I can go."

The good monk took off his shoulder robe, wound up his sleeves and trouser legs, gripped the demon-subduing precious staff, and with a splash opened the water road and dived into the waves. He went straight forward, and while he was walking beneath the surface he heard voices. He slipped to one side and looked carefully. There, beyond him, stood a pavilion and terrace. Outside the hall gate hung eight large characters: "The Black Water River God Manor of Hengyang Gorge."

Then he heard the monster sitting inside say, "My long labor has at last borne fruit today. This monk is a good man who has cultivated through ten lives. If I can eat only one piece of his flesh, I will become an immortal who never ages. I have waited for him long enough. Today I shall not fail my will."

He told the little monsters, "Hurry and bring out the iron cage. Steam those two monks whole, then prepare a written invitation and ask the second uncle to come and warm his birthday feast."

When Sha Wujing heard that, fire surged in his chest. He drew his staff and battered the gate. "You filthy thing, quickly send out my Master Tang and Brother Bajie!"

The monsters inside were so frightened that they rushed to report, "A disaster has come!"

The old monster asked, "What disaster?"

The little monster said, "Outside there is a monk with a blackish face and a look of bad luck. He is beating on the front gate and cursing for people!"

The monster heard this and at once summoned his armor. The little demons brought it out. The old monster dressed himself properly, took a bamboo-section steel whip in his hand, and came out of the gate. He was a cruel and venomous creature indeed.

Look at him:

His square face and round eyes shone with cloud-bright colors;
his rolled lips and great mouth were red as a blood basin.
A few thin iron whiskers swung at his chin, and his temples were tangled with rough red hair.
He looked like a manifesting god of misfortune, like an enraged thunder spirit.
He wore a flashing iron cuirass and a gold helmet thickly set with jewels.
A bamboo-section steel whip was in his hand, dragging wild wind as he walked.
Born from water in the first place, he had shed his original shape and turned fierce.
If you ask his true name, he was once called the Turtle Dragon.

The monster shouted, "Who is beating at my gate?"

Sha Wujing said, "You ignorant wretch! How dare you use trickery to turn yourself into a boatman and kidnap my Master? Hurry and send him back, and I will spare your life."

The monster laughed. "You monk, you do not know life or death. I have taken your Master, and now I am going to steam him and invite guests to eat. Come up and measure yourself against me. If you can stand three rounds with me, I will give your master back. If you cannot stand three rounds, then I will steam and eat you too. You need not dream of going to the Western Heaven."

Sha Wujing flew into a rage and brought down his staff at once. The monster raised his steel whip and met him head-on.

The two of them fought beneath the water. It was a fine slaughter:

The demon-subduing staff and the bamboo whip crossed as both men fought for the lead.
One was the thousand-year monster of Black Water River; the other the old immortal from outside the Hall of Miraculous Mists.
One craved Tang monk's flesh; the other fought to preserve the Tang monk's life.
Both battled beneath the water, each wanting the victory and neither willing to yield.
The shrimp and fish shook their heads and hid; the crabs and turtles all pulled in their shells.
The river mansion's monsters beat drums all together; the gate was noisy with shouting and confusion.
Good indeed was this Buddhist monk, Wujing the True and Pure,
standing alone and showing his strength.
He leaped through the waves and rolled the spray, with no victory and no defeat;
whip and staff met, locked together, drawn and bound.
In the end it was all for Tang monk, to win the scriptures and bow to the Buddha in heaven.

The two of them fought for thirty rounds without either gaining the upper hand. Sha Wujing thought to himself, "This monster is my match. I will never beat him if I stay here. Better draw him out, and let Senior Brother strike him."

He feigned defeat, dropped back, and dragged his staff away.

The monster did not pursue him.

"Go on then," he said. "I am done fighting you. I will go prepare the invitation and ask my guests."

Sha Wujing sprang up out of the water, still puffing with anger, and said to Wukong, "Brother, that monster is rude."

Wukong asked, "You were down there so long. What sort of fiend was he? Did you find Master?"

Sha Wujing said, "Inside there is a pavilion and terrace, and on the gate hangs the inscription 'The Black Water River God Manor of Hengyang Gorge.' I slipped aside and heard him inside telling the little monsters to wash the iron cage and steam Master and Bajie whole, then send for his second uncle to warm his birthday. I could not hold my temper and went to batter the gate. The monster came out with a bamboo-section steel whip, and we fought for about thirty rounds without a winner. I used a false retreat to draw him out and wanted you to help. The monster is sly indeed; he did not chase me. He only went back inside to prepare the invitation. So I came up."

Wukong said, "What sort of fiend is he?"

Sha Wujing said, "He looks like a great turtle. No, perhaps he is a turtle dragon."

Before they could finish, an old man came up from the lower bend and knelt at a distance. "Great Sage, the Black Water River God pays his respects."

Wukong said, "Are you the monster who rowed the boat, come back to cheat me again?"

The old man knocked his head on the ground and wept. "Great Sage, I am not a monster. I am the true river god of this river. Last year, in the fifth month, that monster came from the Western Sea on the spring tide and fought with me here.

"I was old and weak and could not beat him. He seized the Hengyang Gorge Black Water River God Manor where I sat and took it for his own. He also harmed many of my river folk. I had no choice but to go to the sea and accuse him.

"But the Dragon King of the Western Sea is his mother's brother, so he would not accept my petition. He told me to make way for him and let him live here.

"I wanted to appeal to Heaven, but my rank was too low and my office too slight. I could not get before the Jade Emperor. Now that I hear Great Sage has come here, I have specially come to bow and seek your help. I beg you to take pity on me and avenge my wrong."

Wukong heard him and said, "So that is how it is. Then the Western Sea Dragon King ought to share the blame. He has now seized my master and junior brother and says he will steam them and invite his uncle to warm his birthday feast. I had been meaning to take him, and it is fortunate you came to tell me. River God, stay here with Sha Wujing and keep watch. I will go to the sea first and seize that dragon king, then make him capture this monster."

The river god said, "I am deeply grateful to the Great Sage."

Wukong at once mounted a cloud and went straight to the Western Sea. He somersaulted, took the water-avoiding spell, and split the waves. Just then he met a black fish spirit coming up from downstream, holding a golden invitation box.

Wukong crashed straight into him and struck his head with the iron staff. The poor thing was beaten until his brain burst out and his cheekbones split open. With a gurgle he floated up to the surface. Wukong opened the invitation box and saw a written card inside. It said:

To my respected second uncle, the Dragon King Ao, I bow my head and salute you one hundred times. I have recently received a pair of precious captures, a monk from the Eastern Land, a true rarity in the world. I dare not keep him for my own use. Since your honorable birthday is near, I have prepared a humble feast in advance to wish you a thousand years of age. I beg that you come quickly. This will be my great honor.

Wukong laughed. "This wretch has delivered his own confession first."

He tucked the card into his sleeve and went on. Before long, a night patrol yaksha saw him and rushed to the crystal palace to report, "Great King, Sun Wukong has come!"

The Dragon King Ao Shun immediately led the waterfolk out of the palace to meet him. "Great Sage, please come into my little palace and sit a while. We will offer you tea."

Wukong said, "I have not yet drunk your tea, and you have already drunk my wine!"

The Dragon King laughed. "Great Sage has long taken refuge in the Buddha's gate and does not touch meat or wine. When did I ever ask you to drink wine?"

Wukong said, "You may not have drunk it, but you have already taken on the guilt of drinking it."

Ao Shun was shocked. "How can there be guilt?"

Wukong took the invitation from his sleeve and handed it over.

When the Dragon King saw it, he was so frightened that his soul flew apart. He knelt at once and knocked his head. "Great Sage, spare me. That fellow is my sister's ninth son. Because my brother-in-law brought rain and wind the wrong way and cut the rain short, the heavenly officials gave orders, and Wei Zheng of the mortal world beheaded him in a dream. My sister had nowhere to stay, so I took him in and raised him myself. Last year my sister died of illness, and he had nowhere else to live, so I sent him to cultivate his nature and practice the Way in Black Water River. I never expected him to commit such evil. I will at once send men to seize him."

Wukong said, "How many worthy sons does your sister have? And where are they all making trouble?"

The Dragon King said, "My sister had nine sons. Eight of them are all good ones. The first is Little Yellow Dragon, now in charge of the Huai River. The second is Little Brown Dragon, now in charge of the Ji River. The third is the Blue-Back Dragon, who rules the Jiang River. The fourth is the Red-Bearded Dragon, who guards the He River. The fifth is the Laboring Dragon, who serves as the Buddha's bell keeper. The sixth is the Steady Beast Dragon, who guards the ridge at the divine palace. The seventh is the Respectful Dragon, who supports the jade emperor's sky-pillar. The eighth is the Misting Dragon, who rests at our eldest brother's place on Mount Tai. Only this ninth one, the Turtle Dragon, being young and without any office, was only last year sent to Black Water River to cultivate his nature until he should make a name for himself and then be transferred elsewhere. Who knew he would disobey my orders and offend Great Sage?"

Wukong heard that and laughed. "How many brothers-in-law does your sister have?"

Ao Shun said, "She had only one, the Dragon King of the Jing River. He was beheaded years ago because of that affair. My sister remained widowed here and died of illness the year before last."

Wukong said, "One husband and one wife, and yet she bore all these oddities?"

Ao Shun said, "That is just what is meant by the old saying, 'A dragon begets nine kinds, and each kind is different.'"

Wukong said, "I had been troubled and was about to take this invitation as evidence and present a memorial to Heaven, charging you with working together as monsters and stealing people. But from what you say, it is that fellow who disobeyed instruction. I will spare you this time, first because of your family bond, and second because the blame belongs mostly to that young one, and you yourself know nothing of it. Quickly send men to capture him and rescue my master, and then we will settle the rest."

Ao Shun at once called his crown prince, Moang. "Quickly lead five hundred shrimp and fish soldiers and capture the turtle dragon to answer for his crime."

On the other side he arranged wine and a banquet to apologize to the Great Sage.

Wukong said, "Dragon King, do not worry your heart. Since we have already spoken of forgiving you, that is enough. Why bother with a feast? I must now go with your son. First, my master is in trouble, and second, my junior brother is waiting."

The old dragon could not keep him long. Just then a dragon maiden came carrying tea. Wukong drank a cup of fragrant tea, took his leave of the old dragon, and went with Moang and the soldiers, leaving the Western Sea behind. In a little while they were back in Black Water River.

Wukong said, "Noble crown prince, capture the monster well. I will go ashore."

Moang said, "Rest easy, Great Sage. My little dragon son will bring him up to you first, punish him, and send your master back up. Only then will I dare lead him back into the sea to answer to my father."

Wukong gladly took his leave, pinched the water-avoiding spell, and sprang out of the waves, going straight up to the eastern bank. Sha Wujing and the river god came to meet him.

"Brother," they said, "you went out through the air. Why have you come back from within the river?"

Wukong told them all about the fish spirit he had beaten to death, the invitation he had recovered, the dragon king's identity, and how the crown prince had come with troops. Sha Wujing was overjoyed, and the three stood on the bank waiting to receive Master, so we need not dwell on that now.

Now then: the crown prince Moang sent his armored troops first to the monster's water gate and reported, "The crown prince of the old Dragon King of the Western Sea, Moang, has arrived."

The monster was sitting there when he heard this and became suspicious. "I sent a black fish spirit to deliver an invitation to my second uncle. The time has passed and there is no reply. How is it that my uncle did not come, but my cousin has?"

Just then the river scout rushed back to report, "Great King, there is a troop of soldiers in the river west of the water manor. On the banners it says, 'The Western Sea Crown Prince Moang.'"

The monster said, "This cousin of mine is rather bold. It must be that my uncle could not come and sent him in his place to attend the feast. But if he came for a feast, why bring soldiers? Something is not right. I fear there is some reason for this.

"Little ones, get my armor and steel whip ready. He may turn fierce at any moment. I will go out and meet him first and see what he means."

The monsters obeyed. Each rubbed their hands and rolled their fists, readying themselves. The turtle dragon came out the gate and truly saw a troop of sea soldiers pitched in camp on the right.

Look:

War banners streamed with embroidered sashes; painted halberds stood like lines of sunrise.
Precious swords held their gleam; long spears were ringed with tassels like flowers.
Bows were bent like little moons; arrows stood packed like wolf's teeth.
Great sabers glittered bright; short clubs were hard and solid.
Whales, turtles, clams, and mussels were all drawn up; crabs, softshell turtles, fish, and shrimp stood in ordered ranks.
Big and small were arrayed together, with weapons packed thick as hemp.
Without a marshal's command, who would dare to move at all?

Seeing this, the monster went straight to the camp gate and shouted in a loud voice, "Cousin, I await your visit. Please come out."

One patrol snail rushed to the center tent and reported, "Your Highness, the turtle dragon is outside asking for you."

The crown prince adjusted the gold helmet on his head, tightened the jeweled belt at his waist, took up a three-edged tablet, and strode out of the camp. "You asked for me. What do you want?"

The turtle dragon bowed and said, "This little brother sent a card this morning to invite our uncle. I suppose our uncle has set me aside and sent Cousin in his place. Since Cousin has come to the feast, why bring so many troops? Why not go into the water manor? Why camp here with soldiers and armor?"

The crown prince said, "What did you invite our uncle for?"

The monster said, "Little brother has long enjoyed your kindness and has lived here for some time. I have been away from your noble face for too long and have not yet shown my dutiful respect. Yesterday I captured a monk from the Eastern Land. I heard that he has cultivated through ten lives, and that if a person eats him, he can prolong his life. I wanted to invite our uncle to inspect him and steam him in an iron cage, so that he might warm your birthday and lengthen your years."

The crown prince shouted, "You fool! Do you even know what kind of monk he is?"

The monster said, "He is a monk from the Tang court, traveling west to seek the scriptures."

The crown prince said, "You only know he is Tripitaka. You do not know how dangerous his disciples are."

The monster said, "He has one long-mouthed monk called Zhu Bajie, and I have captured him too, so I plan to steam and eat him together with Tripitaka. He has another disciple called Sha Wujing, a black fellow with a black face who carries a precious staff. Yesterday he came to my gate demanding his master. I sent out river troops and met him with my steel whip. We fought there for most of the day, about thirty rounds, and I did not see anything especially dangerous."

The crown prince said, "So that is because you do not know. He has one more senior disciple, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, an immortal of the highest rank who caused havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. He now protects Tripitaka westward to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. It was the merciful Guanyin of Mount Putuo who persuaded him to reform and gave him the name Sun Wukong.

"How could you be so reckless as to stir up this disaster? He has already met your messenger in my sea realm, seized your invitation, and entered the crystal palace, accusing my father and son of joining with monsters to steal people. Quickly send Tripitaka and Bajie back to the riverbank and return them to the Great Sage. If I go with you and apologize, you may still keep your life. But if you dare say even half a 'no,' do not dream of keeping a whole life here."

The turtle dragon flew into a rage. "I am your own cousin, yet you side with outsiders.

"By your reckoning, I should just send Tripitaka back. Since when have things in heaven and earth ever been that easy? If you fear him, do you think I fear him? If he has the skill, let him dare come to my water gate and fight me three rounds. If he cannot beat me, I will capture him too. Then I will steam him together with Tripitaka, and no one need be invited. I will close the gate, let my little ones sing and dance, and sit up top enjoying myself. What is wrong with that?"

The crown prince flew into a rage and cursed him. "You filthy evil thing, you truly have no restraint. Do not let Sun Wukong fight you; do you dare to stand against me?"

The monster said, "If I am to be a real man, what am I afraid of?"

He called for his armor. At once the little monsters gathered on both sides, brought the armor, and handed over the steel whip. The two of them changed countenance and both displayed their heroism. They gave the signal, and drums rolled together.

This battle was very different from the one with Sha Wujing. Look:

Banners flashed; spears and halberds shook with light.
This camp broke apart; that gate opened wide.
The crown prince held his golden tablet; the turtle monster swung his whip and blocked it hard.
One cannon shot cracked the river soldiers into fierceness; three drumbeats made the sea troops wild.
Shrimp fought shrimp; crabs fought crabs.
Whales and turtles gulped red fish; herring and bream leaped from the water.
Sharks and mullets seized at running fish; oysters caught razor shells in confusion.
Needle-clam and razor-shell stood hard as iron rods; the sky-swallowing fish and needlefish flashed like blades.
Sablefish chased white eels; the sea bream caught black pomfret.
One set of river monsters fought for the upper hand; two branches of dragon soldiers decided the stronger side.
For a long while the waves churned in confusion, until the crown prince shone like a vajra guardian.
When his golden tablet fell, it came down with all the weight of law, and the turtle monster was seized as a criminal king.

The crown prince feinted with his three-edged tablet and showed an opening. The monster, not knowing it was a trick, rushed in. The prince then used a locking throw and struck the monster once on the right arm with the tablet, knocking him sprawling. He followed with a step and sent him toppling to the ground. The sea soldiers swarmed forward, seized him, tied his hands behind his back with rope, threaded iron chains through the pipa bones, and brought him ashore.

They delivered him before Sun Wukong and said, "Great Sage, this little dragon has captured the turtle monster. Please judge him as you see fit."

Wukong and Sha Wujing saw him and said, "You disobeyed your uncle's command. Your uncle had placed you here to live and told you to nurture your nature and preserve your body until your name was made and you could be assigned elsewhere. How could you seize another's river-god house, rely on power to do evil, lie to your superiors, trick our master and junior brother, and use such deceit? I would strike you with this staff, but Old Sun's rod is heavy. One tap from it would end your life at once. Where have you hidden my master?"

The monster kept bowing. "Great Sage, Little Turtle did not know your illustrious name. I have just now offended Cousin by being willful and unreasonable, and Cousin has seized me. Now that I see Great Sage, I am lucky to have received your mercy and not be killed. I am deeply grateful.

"Your master is still trapped between the water manor walls. Please release my iron chains and free my hands, and let me go into the river to send him out."

Moang said from the side, "Great Sage, this wretch is rebellious and sly. If you let him loose, I fear he will turn evil again."

Sha Wujing said, "I know the place well. Let me go find Master."

The two of them leaped into the water and went straight to the water manor gate. The gate stood wide open, with not a single soldier left inside. They went straight into the pavilion and terrace and saw Tripitaka and Bajie both bound naked there.

Sha Wujing hurriedly untied his master, and the river god likewise released Bajie. Each carried one of them on his back, and they went out of the water to the shore. When Bajie saw the monster locked and bound at the side, he immediately raised his rake and wanted to smash him, cursing, "Filthy beast! You were going to eat me now, were you?"

Wukong held him back. "Brother, spare his death for now. For Ao Shun's sake and the feeling between father and son, let it go."

Moang came forward and bowed. "Great Sage, this little dragon dares not stay long. Since I have helped rescue your master, I will take this fellow back to see my father. Though you have spared him from death, my father will certainly not spare him from punishment. He will have his proper sentence. I will also return to thank you on my father's behalf."

Wukong said, "Since that is so, take him away. Give my respects to your honored father, and I will thank him in person another day."

The crown prince took hold of the demon and led the sea troops back into the Western Sea, and we need not follow them further.

The Black Water River god thanked Wukong again and again. "I am much obliged to the Great Sage for restoring my water manor."

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, we are still on the eastern bank. How are we to cross this river now?"

The river god said, "Master, do not worry. Please mount up. I will open the road and lead you across."

As soon as the master mounted the white horse, Bajie took the reins, Sha Wujing shouldered the luggage, and Sun Wukong stood ready on both sides. The river god cast a spell to hold back the upper current. In a moment the lower current dried away, and a road opened straight through the river. The master and disciples crossed to the western bank, thanked the river god, and climbed the cliff onto the road.

This is just what the poem says:

The monk is saved and sets westward for the borderlands;
through the black river he passes with not a ripple on the ground.

How they came to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures is another matter; listen to the next chapter for the full account.